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From Stand-Alone Electricity Systems

to Grid Connection

a Bottom-Up Approach

Intersolar 2013

Special Exhibit – Rural Electrification, June 19

Noara Kebir

Managing Director, MicroEnergy International

Swarm Electrification

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MicroEnergy International

Working at the intersection of

Microfinance and Renewable Energy

Current and recent projects:

• Peru

• Mexico

• Philippines

• Kyrgyzstan

• Bangladesh

Introduction to MEI

More than 30 employees:

• Consultants

• Associate Experts

• Research Assistants

MEI Team

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MEI Services

Offering a wide range of services

Scientific Research

Research Design &

Partnership Development

Academy

Trainings, (Continuing) Education, Industrial & Scientific Programs

Financial Services

SME and MFI Financing,

Impact Investment Solutions

Engineering

Product Design,

Evaluation & Optimization

Consulting

Policy & Business

Consulting, Project

Management

Microenergy Sector

MicroEnergy International

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Bangladesh

Dhaka

Sandwip Minigrid

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Bangladesh Germany

Population 160 Million 80 Million

Density 1,015

people/km²

234.58

people/km²

Households 32 Million 40 Million

GDP/capita USD

2,100(192)

USD 41,513

Grid

Coverage:

On Grid 42% of

population

(daily load

shedding)

100%

Off Grid 19 Million

households

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The Starting Point

Proliferation of SHS in Bangladesh

0,0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1,0

1,2

1,4

1,6

1,8

2,0

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Mil

lio

n

so

ld

SH

S

May, 2013: 2,000,000 SHS sold

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Two separate concepts for rural electrification

SHS

• Serve only basic needs

• Productive use limited

• Excess generation dumped

MinigridMinigrid

• Unable to recover capital costs

• Capacity quite inflexible

• High risk for investors

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Solutions to fill the gap?

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Building Microgrids from the Bottom-Up

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• Decentralized Generation

• Decentralized Storage

• DC Grids (220 V DC)

• SHS upgrades / extensions

Enabling Swarm

Current Developments in Bangladesh

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Swarm – 3 Phase Process

1. Isolated SHS 2. Autonomous Grid 3. Grid Connected Microgrid

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Swarm – 3 Phase Process

• Status-quo electrification

• Decentralized generation and storage

• Services basic need (=small loads

• Financing: End-user micro-finance

• Tech (upgrade needed): Intelligent

control _-units

Starting point – Phase 1: Upgrading SHS

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Swarm – 3 Phase Process

• Swarm of generation units

• Balancing of systems

• Electrification of new houses

• Enhances productive use

Phase 2: Microgrid

• Financing: Community-

based?

• New Tech: Distribution lines

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Phase 3: Grid Interconnection

Swarm – 3 Phase Process

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Key Aspects

• Bottom-up process starting from the status quo

• Step-by-step quality improvement

• Enhanced opportunities for productive use

• Multiple financing options

• Incorporates requirements from grid operator

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Make

yourself

connectable

to the future!